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Past campaigns and successes

We know people power works but, if ever we needed proof, the success of our tireless campaigners are it! Since 1942, Oxfam campaigners have gone all out to end poverty, pushing for action on inequality, tax dodging, climate change, and more.

Past campaigns and successes

We changed the government's rhetoric

Tax dodging is a global scandal, with poor countries losing a staggering $170 billion to tax havens. That's why as part of our Even It Up campaign, Oxfam campaigners have been calling for big businesses to be transparent in where they pay their taxes.

Early 2016 marked a significant change in the government's rhetoric towards tax dodging when they made it clear that they "recognise the case for publishing country-by-country reports on a multilateral basis." A (small) step closer to tax justice and ensuring fairness for all!

We dealt a blow to climate change

After decades of campaigning, world leaders agreed to take vital action on climate change at the UN Climate Summit in Paris in December 2015. This momentous step forward was in part thanks to our campaigners keeping their #eyesonParis, and showing world leaders that
we simply can't afford to look away from climate change and the misery it's causing the world's poorest people.

We marched for climate action

On the eve of the 2015 UN Climate Summit, well over half a million people in cities around the world hit the streets to call on leaders to act on climate change. As one of the largest climate mobilisations in history, we marched for our own communities and those already at risk from climate change, for the future of our children and grandchildren, and for a safer world powered by clean energy. Together we
showed politicians the time to act on climate change is now.

We left coal power in the past

Emissions from burning coal are the single biggest driver of climate change, contributing to devastating weather events and increasingly unreliable seasons that are hitting the world's poorest and most vulnerable people first and hardest. Thousands of Oxfam supporters pushed the UK government to end its reliance on coal energy by signing our petition and sharing our Simon Pegg video.

We helped set a global goal to eradicate inequality

In September 2015, the UN established a new set of global sustainable development goals to stamp out poverty including, for the first time, a goal to reduce inequality. Since we launched our campaign to Even It Up in November last year, our campaigners have had a huge impact raising awareness about inequality and bringing about vital changes like this one.

We tackled corporate tax dodging

Corporate tax dodging is unfair: nearly everyone loses out when tax rules allow big companies to avoid paying their fair share. In the lead up to the 2015 General Election, thousands of campaigners pushed politicians to #MakeTaxFair in order to raise crucial funds to fight poverty in the UK and developing countries. Together we put tax at the top of the agenda, and all parties promised in their manifestos to crack-down on tax dodging.

We spoke up against climate change

In June 2015, we joined our friends in the Climate Coalition to bring over 9,000 campaigners from across the UK together to lobby their MPs on climate change. By speaking directly with our MPs we ensured they knew exactly how much their constituents care about this issue that affects us all.

We pushed Pepsi to change how they do business

When enough of us speak out, companies listen. In 2014, PepsiCo proved this.

After pushing Pepsi's rival Coca-Cola to prevent land grabs in their supply chain, Oxfam campaigners continued to pressure Pepsi into following their example. Now, suppliers who want their ingredients to be used in everything from Pepsi and Doritos to Tropicana and Walkers must ensure their land is acquired responsibly.

We stood #WithSyria

The enormity of the suffering of the Syrian people over the past five years has reached a devastating peak, and Oxfam campaigners have come together over the years to show politicians that they won't stand by while the country and its people continue to suffer.

In 2014, vigils were held from London to Darfur to refugee camps in Jordan. The voices were diverse, but the call was one of unity: "Leaders, do everything you can to make sure the people of Syria do not lose another year to bloodshed and suffering" -- a cry that culminated with the UK International Development Minister, Justine Greening, promising that the 'UK will continue to do everything it can to prevent another year of suffering.'

In 2015 we ramped up our calls for action, and 55,000 supporters added their voice to our petition calling on world leaders to act, and a further 400,000 watched our powerful film about a little boy who grows up to be a hero for his people.

We pushed politicians to make commitments on aid and tax dodging

Thanks to the work of Oxfam campaigners, the UK became the first G8 country to keep a 43-year promise to spend 0.7% of national income on aid to the world's poorest people.

The IF campaign urged politicians to stamp out tax dodging and free up money that could be used to build schools and hospitals. Together we called on MPs and G8 leaders to reform tax laws. David Cameron then announced that all UK-affiliated tax havens' will now have to share financial information.

We made history with the Arms Trade Treaty

For ten years, Oxfam supporters and others have been calling for a treaty to control the illegal sale of weapons. Together we signed petitions, sent emails, met MPs, and even drove a tank to 10 Downing Street to make our point. In April 2013, the world agreed a historic Arms Trade Treaty -- and the determination of people like you made it possible.

We fought gender inequality in cocoa farming

In spring 2013, more than 100,000 dedicated campaigners urged Mars, Mondelez and Nestlé to investigate the treatment of women cocoa farmers in their supply chains as part of our Behind the Brands campaign. By April, all three had made the important commitments necessary to start tackling gender inequality and respecting women's rights.

We helped keep the hope of peace in Syria alive

Since we launched our Love Syria campaign in 2013, the UK Government has committed to give £500 million in aid to the Syrian people -- the most it has ever given to a humanitarian crisis. Our politicians also voted against military action in Syria and agreed to stop sending arms to the region.

In the summer of 2013, nearly 50,000 festival-goers showed their support for refugees fleeing war in Syria. From Glastonbury to Bestival, people signed our Love Syria petition calling for more aid and a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

We helped drop Haiti's debt

More than 220,000 people died and more than 1 million people were left homeless by the devastating earthquake that hit Haiti on 12 January 2010. To help its recovery, the World Bank then waived Haiti's $36m debt, thanks in part to more than 415,000 people who signed our "Drop the Debt" petition.

We made HIV treatment affordable

Oxfam supporters' campaigning paid off in 2009 when a patent pool for HIV drugs was agreed. That means manufacturers can produce affordable versions of the drugs -- a major step towards the 33 million people living with HIV and AIDS getting the treatment they need.

We demanded a fair price from Starbucks

Nearly 100,000 people contacted Starbucks in 2007 and asked them to pay Ethiopian farmers a fair price for their coffee beans. Under pressure, Starbucks eventually put people before profits -- so we still get to drink great coffee, and the farmers get paid fairly for it.

We ensured access to medicine for millions

In 2007, legal action by Novartis put the health of millions at risk. The pharmaceutical giant launched a battle to challenge India's right to produce cheap, generic version of medicines -- affordable drugs that poor people worldwide depend on. 80,000 Oxfam campaigners stepped in to help put a stop to it - and got the result the world's poorest people needed!

We campaigned to make Poverty History

The biggest ever anti-poverty movement came together under the banner of Make Poverty History in 2005 calling for urgent action for more and better aid, debt cancellation and trade justice.

Millions of people wore white bands, 444,000 people emailed the Prime Minister about poverty, and a further 225,000 took to the streets of Edinburgh for the Make Poverty History march and rally.